A bank robbery has been foiled in Chile after a stunned security guard discovered a tunnel leading to the building. Police believe amateur thieves created the 25-metre tunnel, which had been equipped with lights. It started in the bathroom of a building close to the BBVA bank office in the city of Vina del Mar, in the centre of the country...

It started in an empty building owned by the bank, and the would-be robbers were just three metres short of reaching their target.Cristian Becerra, from the Chilean police, said the tunnel is around two metres wide and could be used by around two people at a time.

Becerra said officers have collected evidence from the scene that will be used in the hunt for the perpetrators, including sweat and skin.

They also seized tools that they believe were used in the construction of the tunnel, and are trawling through CCTV footage.

The hole was discovered by the security guard of the abandoned building.